BREAKING: Midfielder Pape Gueye Suspends International Career With Senegal
Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has announced an indefinite break from international football, declaring he will not represent the national team as long as head coach Pape Thiaw and his current technical staff remain in charge.
The 27-year-old made the announcement on social media in the aftermath of Senegal’s dramatic elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Teranga Lions surrendered a two-goal advantage before losing 3-2 to Belgium after extra time in the Round of 16.
In a message posted in French, Gueye said he would speak more about the team’s World Cup exit at a later time but confirmed his immediate decision to step away from international duty.
“I’ll come back to speak about our elimination, but today I announce that as long as this technical staff remains, I will take a break from the national team.”
Belgium’s comeback ends Senegal’s World Cup dream
Senegal appeared to be cruising into the quarter-finals after first-half goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr handed the African side a commanding 2-0 lead.
However, Belgium mounted an impressive comeback. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back before Youri Tielemans equalised to force extra time.
With the match heading towards penalties, a late VAR review awarded Belgium a spot kick in the closing moments of extra time.
Tielemans converted from the penalty spot in the 125th minute to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory and send Belgium into the quarter-finals.
The defeat also ended Senegal’s hopes of recording their first knockout-stage victory at a World Cup since their memorable quarter-final run on their tournament debut in 2002.
Coaching decisions come under scrutiny
Gueye’s announcement adds to the growing criticism surrounding Thiaw’s management during the match, particularly his substitutions after Senegal established their two-goal cushion.
Many supporters and football analysts questioned the changes, arguing they disrupted the team’s rhythm and allowed Belgium back into the contest.
Speaking after the defeat, Thiaw defended his decisions, insisting the substitutions were driven by player fatigue rather than tactical adjustments.
According to the coach, several players were no longer physically capable of continuing, making replacements unavoidable despite the team’s advantage.
He maintained that the result should not be blamed solely on the substitutions, stressing that the coaching staff acted responsibly to protect exhausted players.
Uncertainty ahead for Senegal
Gueye’s decision creates fresh uncertainty for the Senegal national team as it begins to assess the fallout from another disappointing World Cup campaign.
Whether the midfielder eventually returns could depend on future changes within the coaching setup, while pressure is expected to intensify on Thiaw as football authorities review the team’s performance in the tournament
